These two tabby kittens have come a long way since they were found abandoned on the streets of Kuwait.

They were just skin and bones and very sickly when animal rescuers of Kuwait Animal Aid scooped them up and rushed them to get help. One kitten was born with a congenital deformity that affects the right side of her face.

Rescuers also found a third littermate, and they brought the trio to a foster home to be cared for around the clock.

Despite all the odds against these “unwanted” kittens, volunteers of the rescue never stopped fighting for them.

Through tireless efforts, the two sisters, Shiva (one-eyed) and Vishnu, perked up and started putting on weight. The third kitten, Amani, developed a viral infection and had to be separated and treated.

Shiva is missing her right eye and has a cleft nose, but she didn’t let it stop her. As soon as she got pep under her feet, she started bouncing around and wrestling with her sister.

Kuwait Animal Aid works with partner rescues in the US to help these deserving kitties find forever homes. When the two sisters were ready to travel, they flew across the ocean, all the way to California.

Rafiki’s Rescue (based in Anaheim) took them on, so Shiva could receive proper care and diagnostics for her congenital condition.

“When they arrived, they were instantly some of the most loving, affectionate kitties we had ever met — so full of love, joy, and so much energy,” Megan of Rafiki’s Rescue shared with

“They would make biscuits all night and play fetch like dogs all day long. It was their big energy that led us to discover that Shiva’s condition was more than what meets the eye – she became winded quickly and began panting, trying to catch her breath.”

Shiva was one of the most playful kittens at the rescue and always on the go despite her condition